Description
Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. 4% suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And 1% find themselves 'locked in' - fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus.
1% doesn't seem like a lot. But in the US that's 1.7 million people 'locked in' ... including the President's wife and daughter.
Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can fully restore the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, 'The Agora', where the locked-in can interact with other humans, whether locked-in ornot. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, allowing those who are locked in to occasionally 'ride' these people and use their bodies as if they were their own.
This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse ...
Imagine a plague that incapacitates almost 1.7 million people - and now imagine a cure that is even worse.
About the Author
John Scalzi is the author of several SF novels including the bestselling Old Man's War sequence, comprising OLD MAN'S WAR, THE GHOST BRIGADES and the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling THE LAST COLONY. He is a winner of science fiction's JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARD for Best New Writer, and he won the HUGO AWARD for YOUR HATE MAIL WILL BE GRADED, a collection of essays from his popular blog, Whatever. His latest novel, Redshirts, hit the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list in its first week on sale. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.
Reviews
Scalzi's latest is a fantastic read. A fast paced sci-fi crime thriller, Lock In has enough of both to keep fans of either genre gripped. Another accomplished novel from John Scalzi and another recommendation from this reader. * The Book Beard Blog *
John Scalzi's Lock In is just brilliant stuff that you don't want to miss out on. From the first sentence I read of Unlocked I was hooked line and sinker to the idea behind Lock In. John Scalzi presents his idea in full colors and has created a very dangerous and dire setting, it's not only a story that focuses on the virus alone or it's consequences alone or how society is dealing with it, it is much more than those parts alone. It's a detective kind of story that combines all of the above mentioned aspects in a brilliant story. * THE BOOK PLANK *
Overall, this is a throught-provoking novel about individual and community rights, politics, identity, and a solid investigation. Definitely recommended. * Civilian Reader *
Lock In is science fiction for the masses. Count me as one of them...it's clubbing you over the head with fun, and intrigue, and a compelling narcotic craving desire to keep reading. * Tor.com *
Book Information
ISBN 9780575134355
Author John Scalzi
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Gollancz
Publisher Orion Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 268g
Dimensions(mm) 202mm * 130mm * 24mm
